Fining Agent
<p ><b>Finings</b><sup id="cite_ref-0" class="reference" ><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finings#cite_note-0" >[note 1]</a></sup> are substances that are usually added at or near the completion of the processing of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brewing" title="Brewing" >brewing</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wine" title="Wine" >wine</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beer" title="Beer" >beer</a> and various nonalcoholic juice beverages. </p>
<p>
Their purpose is for removal of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organic_compounds" title="Organic compounds" class="mw-redirect" >organic compounds</a>; to either improve clarity or adjust flavor/aroma. Specifically, the removed compounds may be <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sulfide" title="Sulfide" >sulfides</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protein" title="Protein" >proteins</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyphenol" title="Polyphenol" >polyphenols</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aromatic_hydrocarbon" title="Aromatic hydrocarbon" >benzenoids</a>,
or copper <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ion" title="Ion" >ions</a>. </p>
<p>
Unless they form a stable bottom sediment in the final container, the spent finings are usually discarded from the beverage along with the target compounds that they capture.
Historically, various substances such as</p>
<p>
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egg_white" title="Egg white" >egg whites</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blood" title="Blood" >blood</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milk" title="Milk" >milk</a>, fish <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swim_bladder" title="Swim bladder" >swim bladder</a> derivatives and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chondrus_crispus" title="Chondrus crispus" >Irish moss</a> have been used as finings. These are still used by some producers, but more modern substances have also been introduced and are more widely used, including <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isinglass" title="Isinglass" >isinglass</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bentonite" title="Bentonite" >bentonite</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gelatin" title="Gelatin" >gelatin</a>,<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casein" title="Casein" >casein</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carrageenan" title="Carrageenan" >carrageenan</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alginate" title="Alginate" class="mw-redirect" >alginate</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diatomaceous_earth" title="Diatomaceous earth" >diatomaceous earth</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pectinase" title="Pectinase" >pectinase</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pectolase" title="Pectolase" class="mw-redirect" >pectolase</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyvinylpolypyrrolidone" title="Polyvinylpolypyrrolidone" >PVPP</a>(Polyclar), kieselsol (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colloidal_silica" title="Colloidal silica" >colloidal silica</a>), <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copper_sulfate" title="Copper sulfate" class="mw-redirect" >copper sulfate</a>, dried <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albumen" title="Albumen" class="mw-redirect" >albumen</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrated" title="Hydrated" class="mw-redirect" >hydrated</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yeast" title="Yeast" >yeast</a>, and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Activated_carbon" title="Activated carbon" >activated carbon</a>.<sup class="Template-Fact" >[<i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed" >citation needed</a></i>]</sup></p>